Hook structure



n 1943- P. HUEBSHMAN ETAL ,32

HOOK STRUCTURE Filed March 9 1942 2 Sheets-$heet l INVENTORS v Pau/ fiuebs/zman wera/d D. Stouy/z 4 after/lays June 22, 194-3. p HUEBSHMAN'ETAL 2,322,576

HOOK STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Q INVENTOR. f /ifi si B era 0119' Patented June 22, 1943 noo STRUCTURE Paul: Hueb'shman, Dearborn, and. Gerald J D...

Stough, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Whitehead &-Kales Company, River Rouge,Micl 1., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationMarch -9, 1942-, Serial No. 483,984 3 Claims. (o1. z -zsasi This invention relates generally to hookjstructures and refers more particularly to those suitable for use as apartof tie down devices, hold downs'oranchorage means for motor vel'iicleslor other articles, or as a part of lifting orhoisting devices for separate or loose metal sheets or the like.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to, provide a hook structure of the type mentioned that may be receivedin holes or openings inand engaged with oppositesides of relatively thin .sheet metal elements, such for example, as relatively thin wallszof vehicle chassis frames to be tied down, or, separate thin sheets of metal to be, lifted, so that the pullingor liftingstrains and stresses applied to the hook structure while in use will be substantially parallel with said walls or sheets and the metal, at the edges .of and adjacent the hole will be relieved of tearing or ripping strains and stresses.

Anothertobject isto provide a hook structure that is formed orlconstructed in such a way that portions thereof engage the thin sheet metal elements away from and atsubstantially diametrically opposite points relative to the engaged holes insaid elements.

Another object is to provide ahookstrueture wherein the engaging portions thereof ljust mentioned are relatively wide or broad so that a surface-to-surfaceengagement between the hook structure and thin sheet metal elements is provided. Thus, the thin walls. or, sheets, are not likely to be dented, deformed OlYOthBIWiSG'diS-P figured by the hook. structures when in use.

Another object is. to provide a hook structure that. is inexpensive to manufacture, that may be easily and quickly appliedto the thin sheet metal elements, and that effectively holds the elements with which it is engaged.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thistinvention will be made more apparent asthisdescription proceeds, especially when considered inv connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation .of a carry-car. trailer, and showing tie down devices embodying. our invention holding, a motor vehicle in placethereon;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is av fragmentary elevation of a lifting deviceincluding hookv structures embodying our inventionapp lied to a separate metal sheet;

Figure 4 is a sectiona'l'view, taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figured)" Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the hook structure illustrated-in Figures-2 and 4; respectively;

Figure 6 is a top plan view ofthe hook shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a View similar to Figure 4, but "showing a slight modification;

Figure 8 is an edge elevation of the hook structure illustrated in Figure -7';

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures land '7, but showing another modification;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary edge elevation of the structure illustrated'in Figure 9 Figure 11 is a detail elevationalview of the lap link l4;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the link illustrated in Figure 11.

Referring now to the. drawings, A is a hook structure embodying our invention havinga body portion .10, and a. neck portion ll. Preferably the hook structure is substantially S-shape in configuration and is a steel forging. The body.

portion to has a central hole or opening l3 constituting an eye for the reception of a link 14 of a chain C forming a. part of a vehicle hold down as illustratedin Figure l, or forming a part of a liftingdevice as illustrated in Figure 3. Preferably the link 14 is alap link having the hook-shaped ends [5 and [6 thereof overlapping each other within the eye [3, however, if desired, the solid part 14* of the lap link, instead of the overlapping ends mentioned, may be received within the eye If; Likewise, the eye l3 may receive any other suitable form of link or element of a chain ormechanical equivalent thereof for the purposes set forth. The body portion It] also has an oiTset'portion I! that is preferably in the form of a bar that crosses one edge of the body at substantially right angles thereto and is transversely curved slightly from its upper to its lower edges.

The neck portion H of the hook structure is substantially U-shape in configuration and constitutes an open return-bent edgewise extension of the body 10. In fact, the leg 18 0f the U projects from the body adjacent one edge of and is disposed at substantially right angles to the bar l1, while the other leg IQ of the U is shorter than the leg I8 and has a rounded endportion 20 so disposed relative to the outer face 2| of the bar I! that lines X and Y tangent to said bar I! and end 20 would be substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart-a distance substantially equal to the thickness of an upright wall such as 22'(Figure"2) of a vehicle-chassis frame to be tied down, or of a metal sheet 23 (Figure 4) to be lifted.

In use, when the hook structure forms a part of a vehicle tie down device (Figure l), the neck portion II is inserted through a hole 24 in the upright wall 22 of the chassis frame so that the rounded end and bar ll bear against opposite sides of said wall in spaced relation to the hole 24. The bar I1 is the fulcrum element, While the end 20 of the neck II is the reaction element. Thus, the bearing portions I1 and 20 will keep the arm l8 of the U-shaped neck at substantially right angles or perpendicular to the wall 22 and the edges of the hole 24 will. be relieved of tearing strains and stresses when the chain C, of which the link l4 in the eye [3 of the hook structure is a part, is pulled downby a winch D or other suitable means on the floor or other supporting portion of the vehicle carrier E. At one point of the carrier E the chain C is drawn under a U-bolt 25 anchored on said carrier, while at another point the chain C extends directly to the winch D on the carrier E. However, in both instances the chain C is substantially in the vertical plane of the body and the pulling strains would be substantially parallel to the upright Wall 22 of the chassis frame of the vehicle being tied down. Also any number of tie down devices comprising the hook structures described and the chains C or other flexible elements may be used to hold the vehicle on the carrier E while in transit. Usually there are four located one at each side of the vehicle near the front end thereof and one at each side of the vehicle near the rear end thereof, and in each instance the construction and operation would be substantially the same as that just described. As shown, the carrier E is a carry-car trailer, however it is apparent that the carrier could be a freight car, boat or any other means for transporting vehicles. Like wise, the hook structure described may be used on many other occasions and with any other suitable device where pulling or lifting actions are employed.

When the hook structure forms a part of a lifting device such as H (Figure 3), two hooks 29 corresponding to the hook structure A in Figure 2 may be used at the lower free ends of upwardly diverging slings 3E! and 3!, respectively, carried by a ring 32 at the lower end of a lifting cable or rope 33. Each hook 29 is engaged with an opening or hole 34 in and engages opposite sides of the metal sheet 23 (Figure 4) so that the lifting action will be parallel to the sheet as previously described.

In Figures 7 and 8, We have illustrated a slightly modified hook structure wherein the transverse bar 49 is ,in the form of an arcuate-, shaped plate that is formed separately and welded to the body portion 4| beneath the tangentially extending arm 42 of the neck portion 43. In this construction the body portion 4! and neck portion 43 are formed from a single length of'rod stock, while the plate 46 is pref erably formed from heavy gauge sheet metal, The body portion 4! comprises a substantially circularportion of the rod, while the neck bortion 43 comprises a substantially L-shaped portion of the rod. The opening 44 at the center of the body portion 4| constitutes an eye for the reception of a link of a chain or the like; the arm 42 of the neck is adapted to be received in a hole 45 in the upright wall 46 of a vehicle chassis frame or of a metal sheet; the arcuate plate welded to the body 4| constitutes a bearing for engagement with one side of the upright wall or of a loose metal sheet, as

' the case may be; and the base 47 of the L-shaped the other side of the upright wall 46 or metal sheet.

Thus, the hook is somewhat different in' construction from that illustrated in Figures 2 40 is the fulcrum element, while the bearing 48 is the reaction element'of the hook structure.

In Figures 9 and 10, we have illustrated another modification wherein a substantially J-shaped plate 50 is formed separately and welded to the body portion and neck portion 52 of the hook structure. Preferably the body portion 5| and neck portion 52 are formed from a single length of rod stock, While the plate Sills formed from relatively heavy gauge sheet metal. The body portion 5| comprises a substantially circular portion of the rod, while the neck portion 52 comprises a substantially L-shaped portion of the rod. The opening 53 at the center of the body portion 5i constitutes an eye for the reception of a link 54 carrying a grab hook 55 or the like; the arm 56 of the L-shaped neck 52 extends tangentially from the body 5| and is adapted to be received in a hole 51 in the upright Wall 58 of a vehicle chassis frame or of a metal sheet, as the case may be; the rounded part 59 of the J-shaped plate 58 constitutes a bearing for engagement with one side of the upright wall 58 or of a loose metal sheet; and the base 50 of the L-shaped neck 52 inclines back slightly over the arm 56 and has a rounded end portion 6| constituting a bearing for engagement with the other side of the upright wall 58 or metal sheet. Thus, this hook structure is different in construction from the hook structures previously described, but the function and operation thereof is substantially the same. The J-shaped plate 50 is the fulcrum element, while the rounded end portion (ii of the neck is the reaction element of the structure.

Each form of hook structure set forth is inexpensive to manufacture, easily attached to an or cable, the neck portion being an open return bent edgewise extension of the body and being insertable through a hole in a sheet metal element, the body being provided in spaced relation to said neck portion with a cross bar, the free end of the neck portion and the outer face of said cross bar being constructed and arranged in such a way relative to each other that they constitute a fulcrum and a reaction element respectively after the neck portion has been inserted in the hole in the sheet metal element to exert forces in opposite directions against opposite sides of said sheet metal element when the body is subjected to tension by the chain or cable along a line substantially parallel to one side of said sheet metal element.

2. A hook structure of the class described having a body portion and a neck portion, the body portion having an opening constituting an eye for receiving a part of a tensioning chain or cable, the neck portion being an open return bent edgewise extension of the body and being insertable through a hole in a sheet metal ele ment, the body having a cross bar extending at substantially right angles to said neck portion, the free end of the neck portion and the outer face of said cross bar being rounded and arranged in such a way relative to each other that they constitute a fulcrum and a reaction element respectively after the neck portion has been inserted in the hole in the sheet metal element to exert forces in opposite directions against opposite sides of said sheet metal element when the body is subjected to tension by the chain or cable along a line substantially parallel to one side of said sheet metal element.

3. A hook structure of the class described having a substantially circular body portion and a tangentially extending neck portion, the body portion having an opening constituting an eye for receiving a part of a tensioning chain or cable, the neck portion being an open return bent edgewise extension of the body and being insertable through a hole in a sheet metal element, the body being provided at one edge in spaced relation to the neck portion with a cross bar,the free end of the neck portion and the outer face of said cross bar being rounded and arranged in such a way relative to each other that they constitute a fulcrum and a reaction element respectively after the neck portion has been inserted in the hole in the sheet metal element to exert forces in opposite directions against opposite sides of said sheet metal element when the body is subjected to tension by the chain or cable along a line substantially parallel to one side of said sheet metal element.

PAUL I-IUEBSHMAN.

GERALD D. STOUGH. 

